Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 134

Frost

The office has never felt so suffocating.

I pace behind the desk for what feels like the hundredth time, my wolf restless and snarling beneath my skin. Scarlett sits perched on the edge of the desk, her leg bouncing with nervous energy as she stares at the door like she could will Elowen and the others to walk through it.

We've been waiting for hours. No word. No sign. Nothing.

"This is wrong," I mutter, raking a hand through my hair. "They should have been back by now."

"I know," Scarlett says tightly. Her fingers drum against the desk in an agitated rhythm. "But what's really bothering me is how *quiet* it's been."

I stop pacing, turning to look at her. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it." She gestures toward the window. "No rogue attacks. No witch sightings. No suspicious activity anywhere near the palace or the borders." Her eyes narrow. "It's like Morgath's entire operation just... vanished."

My jaw clenches. She's right. The past few hours have been eerily peaceful—too peaceful. The rogues that had been harassing our borders, the dark magic signatures our scouts had been tracking, even the general sense of foreboding that had hung over the palace—all of it has simply disappeared.

"She's not focusing her attention here," I say slowly, the realization settling in my gut like a stone. "Which means—"

"She's focusing it *there*," Scarlett finishes grimly. "In that pocket dimension. Where Elowen and Kaius are."

We stare at each other, the implications sinking in.

"Fuck," I breathe. "They walked right into—"

The office door slams open.

Evelyn stumbles through, one hand pressed against her side, her face pale and streaked with blood. Her clothes are torn, burned in places, and she's favoring her left leg heavily.

I'm on my feet instantly. "Where are they?!"

Evelyn shakes her head, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "No... no, just me." Her voice cracks. "They're still there. Still in that witch's hands."

My heart drops.

Scarlett jumps off the desk, her eyes flashing with anger as she takes in Evelyn's injuries. "Who did this to you?" she snarls. "Tell me who, and I'll make them pay for every single mark!"

She grabs Evelyn's arm, guiding her to a chair. "Sit. Now." Then she's at the door, shouting for a medic.

The palace doctor arrives within minutes, medical bag in hand. He gets to work immediately—cleaning wounds, checking for broken bones, setting up an IV drip to combat the blood loss and magical exhaustion.

I can barely contain myself as I watch the needle slide into Evelyn's arm, the clear fluid beginning to flow. "Tell us what happened," I demand. "Everything."

Evelyn's voice is weak at first, but as she speaks, the horror of what transpired becomes clear. The trap. Morgath's twisted domain. Kaius's transformation into that... thing. The way he turned on Elowen without hesitation. How Morgath played with them like toys.

By the time she finishes, rage is burning through my veins like wildfire.

"Fuck!" I slam my fist on the desk. "Kaius... how could he—"

"Evelyn!" Scarlett interrupts, her voice sharp with urgency. She turns to the witch, and I can see the desperation in her eyes. "I know this isn't fair to you. I know you just escaped with your life. But we don't have much time!" She leans forward, gripping the armrest of Evelyn's chair. "If you have any strength left—if you can hold on just a little longer—you have to send us into that world. Now."

Evelyn's eyes go distant for a moment. Hesitant.

"Christ!" Scarlett's voice rises. "Don't tell me you're too scared to go back! You don't even have to come with us—just send us through! We'll find our own way out!"

Evelyn's head snaps up, her hand dropping from her forehead. She stares at Scarlett with an expression of pure disbelief. "Seriously? You think I'm a *coward*?"

Scarlett glares right back. "Well, aren't you? You're not afraid?"

Evelyn lets out a sharp breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Okay, okay—fine! Yes, I'm a coward!" She looks away, her voice dropping. "Honestly? I'm terrified. That place... that witch... what she did to me..."

She trails off, and for a moment I think she might actually refuse.

Then her jaw sets. Her eyes harden.

"But this situation?" Evelyn's voice grows stronger. "Our Elowen is still in that psycho's hands. Facing Kaius's betrayal and that deranged witch?" She looks between Scarlett and me, and I see steel in her gaze. "You think I'd hesitate for even a second?"

Scarlett and I exchange glances. Something in Evelyn's tone, in the set of her shoulders, makes me pause.

She reaches up and yanks the IV needle from her arm in one swift motion. The doctor protests, but she waves him off as she slowly rises to her feet.

I blink. Scarlett's mouth actually falls open slightly.

*Is this really the same witch who was trembling and bleeding just minutes ago?*

"I was thinking..." Evelyn continues, her voice quiet but intense, "about the look in Elowen's eyes when she sent me away. That expression that said she didn't want us involved anymore. That she was willing to sacrifice herself." Her hands clench into fists. "Damn it! I was thinking—what if we all go back? What if we charge in there and get ourselves killed too?"

Her voice cracks, and I see moisture gathering in her eyes. "Elowen would blame me. She'd never forgive me for leading you both to your deaths."

My chest tightens. "Evelyn," I say, my voice softer than before. "We misunderstood you."

Scarlett moves forward and takes Evelyn's hand. "But we *have* to go," she insists. "You really want to leave our Alpha at Kaius's mercy? Let that twisted witch torture her?"

Evelyn's expression wavers. I can see her resolve cracking, but fear still holds her back.

"Maybe... maybe we should make a plan first," she says hesitantly. "Think this through properly. We can't just rush in—"

"A plan?" I start to say, understanding her caution but feeling time slipping away with every second.

"Think this through properly?!" Scarlett cuts in, her voice sharp with provocation. "Seriously, Evelyn! Can you really swallow that humiliation? You're a prodigy witch! A genius!" She steps closer, her eyes blazing. "Are you really content being defeated so easily by that psychotic bitch? Having her look down on you? Having her violate you like that—nearly kill you?" Her voice drops to a dangerous hiss. "She didn't just humiliate *you*. She's controlling your Alpha. Making Kaius into her puppet. What the actual fuck?!"

Evelyn's face flushes red. "No!" The word explodes from her.

"Never! I'm not—I was set up! That deranged witch had this planned too perfectly!" Her hands ball into fists at her sides. "She's going to regret this. I *will* defeat her. I *will* save Elowen. And I'll destroy that entire fucking dimension!"

I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips as I glance at Scarlett. Of course she'd know exactly which buttons to push.

"Well," I say carefully, deliberately casual, "since you just got back, Evelyn... maybe we should rest tonight. Take until tomorrow. Give you time to really think about—"

"Are you insane?!" Evelyn nearly shouts. "How heartless are you?! Our Alpha is in that much danger and you want to *wait*?! Want to think about it until *tomorrow*?!"

I bite back a grin. "So when do you suggest—"

"Now!" Evelyn snaps, already moving toward the door despite her injuries. "Right fucking now! Come on!" She glances back at us, and despite everything—despite the fear I know she's feeling—there's fierce determination in her eyes. "This time, I'm going to figure out a new way to handle that bitch."